Floor-block or stone



June 5, 1934. L. M, SERRA 1,961,677

FLOOR BLOCK OR STONE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 j Inventor .zz ga'jz. i rra i x 41 6 gwawfilm.

flliomey Patented June 5, 1934 1 UNiiEl) STATES PATENT FFHCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in building structure, having particular reference to a flooring or pavement, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved unit, block or stone of such a construction that when used with a required number of other such and similar stones or blocks the completed structure, be it a flooring or pavement will present a strong durable structure having adequate drainage facilities.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved building unit, in the nature of a flooring block or stone, of such construction, that when used with a number of similar such units will provide on the top surface of the floor or pavement, a network of intersecting zig-zag or tortuous drainage channels extending between opposite ends of the completed flooring or pavement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a building block, stone or unit, of the character above mentioned which is also provided with means readily adapting a number of such units for use in providing a flooring or paving surface on a foundation of sand or similar granular material and having means for providing a suction when each of such units is moved into place to thereby securely anchor each unit in position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a View of a portion of a flooring or pavement wherein my improved stone or unit is used.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the stone or unit.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the building block.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that my improved building block, stone or unit designated generally by the reference character 5 may be formed of any suitable material found most suitable for the particular purpose, and comprises a body that is substantially of rectangular elongated form, and whose upper side or face is preferably knurled or otherwise worked to present a roughened exterior surface.

The body of the block 5 is provided with a groove 6 in one end edge thereof, and with a transverse tongue or rib '7 on a relatively opposite end edge thereof adapted to be received in the groove 6 on the proximate end of an adjacent block arranged in the same line or course as is thought apparent.

Each block is also provided on each longitudinal or side edge thereof with a plurality of substantially V-shaped notches providing a series of recesses 8 separated by projections 11, the walls of the recesses being formed by the side faces of the projections as is apparent.

On each longitudinal or side edge of the body of the block there is also provided webs or ribs 9 formed within the recesses 8 as shown. The upper and lower faces of the webs or ribs 9 are oppositely beveled, and these webs or ribs 9 terminate inwardly of the projections 11 as is clear from a study of Figure 1. Each of the projections 11 is provided with a notch or groove 11a that is located in substantially the same plane as the webs or ribs 9, and the top and bottom walls of the grooves 11 are oppositely inclined so as to accommodate a web 9 in a manner hereinafter made more apparent.

In this connection it will be noted that in so forming the relatively opposite longitudinal sides of the body of each block, the blocks or stones may be brought into close edge to edge contact with one another with the projections 11 fitting in the recesses 8, and the webs or ribs 9 fitting into the grooves 11a of the projections 11 whereby an eflicient joint is provided at the adjacent longitudinal edges of the blocks and the blocks .thus secured against longitudinal displacement relative to one another.

The body of each block 5 at the top surface thereof at spaced transverse intervals has oppositely beveled portions 10 forming transverse channels between opposite notches or recesses 8 and these beveled portions 10 extend in opposite directions toward the longitudinal sides or edges of the block to continue toward the outer ends of the substantially V-shaped projections 11 as at 1011.

Thus it will be seen, and as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 when the blocks are in joined or interlocked connection, the beveled portions 10a of the projections 11 serve to form channels in continuation of the channels formed by the beveled portions 10 whereby the surface of the pavement or flooring will present a network of zig-zag tortuous drainage channels extending longitudinally and transversely and intersecting at the angles of such passages thereby prounits.

viding for an effective draining of the flooring or pavement.

As herein before expressed in the statement of invention, these units in the construction of the flooring or pavement are particularly adapted to be supported on a foundation of sand or other granular material which of course provides a somewhat shifting foundation. To this end, the body of each block on the under face thereof is provided with a longitudinal series of relatively spaced concavo-convex recesses 12 so that as each unit is moved into place on the foundation a suction effect is provided for drawing certain of the material into the recesses 12 thus serving to securely anchor each unit in position.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that I have provided a simple and inexpensive block, stone or building unit especially adaptedfor use in the construction of paving surfaces and which will permit of such surface being formed on a foundation of sand or the like and.'.wl1ich also provides for an efficient drainage of such a floor or paving surface formed from these blocks or It will be also noted that the blocks when relatively arranged and united as suggested in substantially V-shaped recesses and substantially V-shaped projections separating the recesses, .webs in the recesses having oppositely inclined top and bottom faces, and said projections having free end portions extending beyond the free edgesof the webs and provided in said, end portions with grooves having oppositely inclined top and bottom. walls whereby said blocks may be brought to close lateral edge contact with the projections and recesses interfitting, and vwith the webs fitting in the grooves of the projections.

' LUIGI M. SERRA. 

